News

The Australian Government has developed a Security Guide for Truck Drivers and Operators, in response to the use of trucks in attacks on crowded places overseas. It will assist drivers and owner operators with some practical security guidance. It incorporates:

The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) and the Queensland Police Service (QPS) Road Policing Command have joined together for the third year to run Queensland Road Safety Week (QRSW) which runs from 21-25 August 2017.

The Week is a chance for all Queenslanders to be involved in making our roads safer.

‘Speaking up for road safety’ continues to be the QRSW theme and TMR/QPS seek your company's support in 2017.

During Queensland Road Safety Week, each day will focus on a different road user behaviour:

This tax time the ATO really wants people to know what they’re eligible to claim before lodging their tax return, so to help with this the ATO have designed a poster that specifically addresses common work-related expenses for truck drivers.

The ATO would like you to share this poster with your networks, and for people to print it out and display in their offices, break rooms or common staff areas.

More information

The ATO website has plenty of information to help people correctly claim the work related expenses they are entitled to. Visit www.ato.gov.au/occupations to read more about this.

An ATO online quiz lets you test your knowledge on common work-related expenses. There are eight questions and it’ll take just a few minutes to complete. You can access the quiz on the ATO’s Let’s Talk platform https://lets-talk.ato.gov.au/mydeductions.

Heavy Vehicle Rest Area (HVRA) Mobile Phone App: Be Part of the Customer Experience

The objective of the HVRA app is to enable immediate access of rest area information that may assist to improve the health and wellbeing of heavy vehicle drivers. This may contribute to reducing fatigued-related crashes.

The features of the HVRA app may include:

identifying all types of rest areas across the state road network,

description of each rest area (amenities, utilities, parking bays and so on), and

a check-in feature to know how many parking bays are available at a rest area (which could assist dangerous goods vehicles).

The Department of Transport & Main Roads are seeking input from heavy vehicle drivers who are required to have a fatigue management plan, to take part in helping to develop the HVRA app.

Once you have the concept model of the HVRA app on your phone you are able to start testing the app.

YOUR FEEDBACK will assist in making the HVRA app:

work better for you and other drivers,

have the right information at your fingertips, and

understand how you and other drivers make decisions about your obligated rest stops.

Drivers are encouraged to attend drop-in sessions which are available between 1pm - 4pm to provide more detailed feedback on:

If you would like to attend one or more of the drop-in sessions please RSVP via email at HVRestAreas@tmr.qld.gov.au or by telephone on 3066 2197.

Testing Within Government (TWiG) innovation programThe development of the HVRA app for the Department of Transport and Main Roads is part of Advance Queensland's Testing Within Government (TWiG) innovation program which supports Queensland's Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to improve the positioning of their ICT products to address business problems, while collaborating with the Queensland Government. For more information on the TWiG program, seehttp://advance.qld.gov.au/small-business/twig.aspx

The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) is committed to keeping traffic moving on the Pacific Motorway (M1) now and into the future.

The M1 between Brisbane and the Gold Coast is Queensland’s busiest road with more than 148,000 vehicles each day, including around 12,000 heavy vehicles.

To improve traffic flow and safety for all drivers, M1 lane restrictions for trucks over 4.5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Mass start from 1 August 2017. In a 60 kilometre section of the M1 between Springwood (Exit 20) and Robina (Exit 82 Southbound and Exit 79 Northbound), trucks will be restricted to travelling in the left two lanes only.

Not only will this improve travel times and safety on the M1 now, it will also prepare our busiest road for one of the biggest events in Queensland – the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games from 4 to 15 April.

During the Games, thousands of spectators will attend events on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane, and many will be relying on the M1 to get there safely and on time.

Introducing lane restrictions for trucks is the first of a suite of initiatives designed to maximise capacity and improve the reliability of the M1 during the Games.

Truck lane restrictions on the M1 will be a permanent change to the way trucks use the motorway. The restrictions will apply to vehicles over 4.5 tonne, 24 hours a day, even in slow or stopped traffic. Trucks will be permitted to overtake other vehicles, if it is safe to do so, but they must not travel outside the left two lanes to do so. A truck can use the right hand lane if they must do so to avoid an obstruction.

Penalties will apply from 1 August 2017, with fines for individuals of $126 and three demerit points, or $630 for businesses.

Variable Message Signs on the M1 have started promoting the implementation of trucks use left lanes from 1 August 2017. This will give truck drivers ample time to prepare for the change.

An extensive signage scheme denoting the lane restriction zones will be installed before August 2017.

Register for this year's WHSQ Injury Prevention and Return to Work Conference, which explores future workplace trends and their impact on safety and return to work. This full-day conference is perfect for those on the frontline of work health and safety and rehab and return to work.

The conference will feature high profile keynote speakers including Bernard Salt, Rob Hanson, Nigel Collin and Mark Griffin.Get in quick – early bird discount is available until 31 July!

If you would like to read more, join the QTAto receive the regular QTA Transporter News Brief directly to your inbox.

QTA Ltd Transporter News Brief is the Association's newsletter and is forwarded to all members on a regular basis. It factually and promptly informs members of the latest developments within the industry and provides editorial comment on current Government policy and Industry issues.

Any enquiries regarding the Transporter News Brief should be directed to the QTA Ltd office by either phone (07) 3394 4388 oradmin@qta.com.au(including if you wish to receive a copy of a particular article in a Transporter News Brief).

The latest issue of the QTA Transporter E-News - Special Qld State Budget 2017-18 (Issue 14) includes the following articles:

1.From the CEO's Desk

2. Palaszczuk Government strategy helps hundreds of Qld Small Businesses

3. Major Projects deliver jobs for Queensland

4. More comprehensive read...

5. Calendar of Events

If you would like to read more, join the QTAto receive the regular QTA Transporter News Brief directly to your inbox.

QTA Ltd Transporter News Brief is the Association's newsletter and is forwarded to all members on a regular basis. It factually and promptly informs members of the latest developments within the industry and provides editorial comment on current Government policy and Industry issues.

Any enquiries regarding the Transporter News Brief should be directed to the QTA Ltd office by either phone (07) 3394 4388 oradmin@qta.com.au(including if you wish to receive a copy of a particular article in a Transporter News Brief).